CA · Chula Vista · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Chula Vista, CA

The median surgical technologist pay in the Chula Vista area is $39.63 per hour ($82,430 a year), with the typical range running from $31.57 to $45.69. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Chula Vista. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Chula Vista. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chula Vista.

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Who is hiring surgical technologists near Chula Vista

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Sharp HealthCare2$39.20
Sharp Healthcare1$38.01

Surgical Technologist pay in Chula Vista, CA

The metro median is 2% above the California statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 960 surgical technologists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.85).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.31$60,9603% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$31.57$65,6705% above U.S. median
Median$39.63$82,43031% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$45.69$95,04051% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.14$98,05056% above U.S. median

How Chula Vista ranks

  • 11th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 33rd of 261 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th of 20 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Chula Vista

  • Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.63 median hour buys what $35.42 buys at the national price level, 17% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Chula Vista paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,427
  • Per year: $71,334
  • Per month: $5,944

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Chula Vista

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$205
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,037
13-week assignment$26,481

Travel surgical technologist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Chula Vista

CMS lists 1 hospital in Chula Vista, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Surgical Technologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
National City, CA5 mi$39.63/hr58,460
La Mesa, CA10 mi$39.63/hr60,767
Temecula, CA60 mi$37.02/hr112,431

Surgical Technologist jobs in California · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Chula Vista

Chula Vista city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Chula Vista, CA?

Surgical Technologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $39.63 per hour, about $82,430 a year. The middle half earn between $31.57 and $45.69 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Chula Vista a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 33rd of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 11th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring surgical technologists in Chula Vista?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Chula Vista. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chula Vista.

Do I need a California license to work in Chula Vista as a surgical technologist?

CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Chula Vista?

The federal per diem benchmark in Chula Vista is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Chula Vista?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chula Vista and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chula Vista.

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What do employers near Chula Vista pay surgical technologists? Get the report.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Surg Tech near Chula Vista, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Surg Tech pay reportChula Vista, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Sharp HealthCareChula Vista, CA · 6 postings$41.81/ hr$34–$48
  • CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 10 postings$47.95/ hr$32–$62
  • Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 2 postings$44.43/ hr$41–$48
  • Enloe Medical CenterChico, CA · 2 postings$41.50/ hr$36–$47

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$35Median$42.52High$52

28 Surg Tech postings with published pay in California, 22 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 28 Surg Tech roles

  1. Surgical TechnicianPer diem
    $46.94–$53.94/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Woodland, CA · posted today
  2. Operating Room TechnicianPermanent
    $43.65–$49.44/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Carmichael, CA · posted yesterday

+ 26 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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